September 21 2025 Sermon
One might think that with 20+ years of experience preaching would be easy, perhaps as easy as dusting off a previous sermon based on the same text. I’ve never felt comfortable doing that. Preaching is a listening together to God’s voice. The words of scripture are alive; they are preached into a particular context that is always new. Today’s gospel, the parable of the dishonest steward, does not allow for a simple summary, it doesn’t afford a clear-cut moral lesson – the main character, the steward caught in squandering his masters’ property is called out for his dishonesty and commended for his shrewdness. Although the rich man is sacking the manager, he praises him for being practical, discerning, and wise in worldly matters. Jesus encourages His followers to be practical, discerning and wise in spiritual matters.
So let us look at the interplay between worldly and spiritual matters.
Luke’s writing in the gospel and the book of Acts is notable for its significant focus on wealth, poverty, and stewardship, including several key parables and teachings like the Parable of the Rich Fool (Luke 12:13-21) and the story of Lazarus and the Rich Man (Luke 16:19-31), which address the dangers of wealth and the importance of generosity. Luke also records examples of those who invested in Jesus’ work and teachings on serving God rather than money.
The bridge material between today’s parable and next Sunday’s story of Lazarus and the rich man.
16:9 And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into the eternal homes.
The economic system of Jesus day was deeply flawed the same is true of economic systems of every age. Jesus did not reject the wealthy nor the poor, rather his call to love God and others was to be the guide and compass for the way in which material possessions are to be stewarded.
St. Basil the Great (c. 330-379): The bread in your hoard belongs to the hungry; the cloak in your wardrobe belongs to the naked; the shoes you let rot belong to the barefoot; the money in your vaults belongs to the destitute. All you might help and do not–to all these you are doing wrong….
St. John Chrysostom (c. 349-407): “Do not say, ‘I am using what belongs to me.’ You are using what belongs to others. All the wealth of the world belongs to you and to the others in common, as the sun, air, earth, and all the rest.”
St. Ambrose (c. 340-397): “You are not making a gift of your possessions to the poor person. You are handing over to him what is his…. God has ordered all things to be produced so that there should be food in common for all, and that the earth should be a common possession of all. Nature, therefore, has produced a common right for all, but greed has made it a right for a few.”
16:10 “Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much.
We can begin this journey of faithfulness with small steps. The little actions we take, not from a self-centred attitude of personal improvement – but from a kingdom centred attitude inspired by Jesus and his saints. Once a week attendee – engage in the service, say a prayer for those around you, come in with an attitude the God is present in the moment, even the flawed people around you, the flawed preacher are precious in God’s sight.
16:11 If then you have not been faithful with the dishonest wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?
I possess a dishonest wealth that was given to me, material and spiritual wealth bequeathed to me. We are an integrated whole, our spiritual wealth is impacted by our relationship to our material wealth. Have I been faithful with these riches?
16:12 And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to another, who will give you what is your own?
Remember back to those ancient saints basic, john chrsostom and ambrose speaking of sharing material bounty. Sharing our spiritual bounty – Northend Alpha program, celebrate recovery,
16:13 No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” It’s a choice, an ongoing choice, a moment by moment choice. Our consumeristic, materialistic, individualist society would have us serve wealth. Jesus teaches us the way of serving God. You cannot serve God and wealth, it’s a choice, what’s it going to be?